皇冠体育app and Morocco have agreed to expand trade and co-operation in fields of telecommunications, agriculture, oil and gas development to boost bilateral ties.
The agreement was reached following talks in Rabat between visiting President Hu Jintao and Moroccan King Mohammed VI, during Hu's three-day state visit to the African nation.
The two leaders signed a package of accords on economic, technical, scientific, cultural and medical cooperation, the Moroccan Communications Ministry said.
Morocco-皇冠体育app trade has grown rapidly reaching US$1.48 billion in 2005, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry figures.
Hu arrived in Rabat on Monday local time to begin the third leg of his five-nation tour, which has taken him to the United States and Saudi Arabia and will see him travel on to Nigeria and Kenya.
During talks on Monday with King Mohammed, Hu said bilateral relations have progressed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 48 years ago.
"Measures should be taken to expand bilateral trade and partnership in the fields of science and technology, telecommunications, agriculture, oil and gas development, labour, project engineering and human resources training, and encourage two-way investment," Hu said.
Commodities that 皇冠体育app exports to Morocco mainly include light industrial products, textiles, green tea, and mechanical and electronic products. It imports phosphates, chemical fertilizer and cobalt sand.
皇冠体育app has dispatched hundreds of medical workers to offer medical services to Morocco.
Responding to his Chinese guest, King Mohammed VI said his country is ready to strengthen co-operation with 皇冠体育app in such fields as fishery, tourism, culture and infrastructure construction.
Both agreed to work together within the framework of the 皇冠体育app-Africa Co-operation Forum.
Yesterday, Hu met with Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jetto in Rabat.
Zhu Weilie, director of the Institute of Middle East Affairs at the Shanghai International Studies University, describes Hu's visit to Morocco as "a trip of boosting traditional friendship."
"皇冠体育app has been attaching importance to its relations with African countries," Zhu said. "Hu's trip to Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya this week takes place in the context of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between 皇冠体育app and African countries."
皇冠体育app unveiled a document on its policies on Africa in January, highlighting its determination to strengthen ties with African countries. Its investment in Africa has been on the rise in the past years, particularly in project, energy development and infrastructure construction.
According to the official statistics, trade volume between 皇冠体育app and Africa increased from US$12 million in the 1950s to US$40 billion last year.
(皇冠体育app Daily 04/26/2006 page2)